Tire-tread.



PATENTE!) APR.18, 1905.

J. R. WEITTEMORE, TIRE `Tamm PPLIOATION FILED JAN. 20, 1905.

L small heads (Z3 and shanks 4V.

UNITED STATES Patented April 18, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

TIRE-TREAD.

SPECIFICATION f'ormng part of Letters Patent No. 787,600, dated April 18, 1905.

Application filed January 20, 1905. Serial No. 242,019.

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN R.- WHTTTEMORE, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing' at Erie, in the county of Erie and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Tire-Treads, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to tire-treads; and 4it consists in certain improvements in the construction thereof, as will be lhereinafter fully described, and pointedout in the claims.

The purpose of the invention is to provide a tire-tread with a protecting-armor to protect the tire against puncture, which will at the same time preserve the flexibility of the tire, to provide a wearing-surface for the tire at the tread, and to provide means to prevent skidding as well as details of construction for effecting this result, which will-appear from the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, as follows:

Figure 1 shows a section on the line l 1 in Fig. 2; Fig. 2, an elevation of a fragment of 3 a tire having the protective armorthereon;

Fig. 3, a section on the line 3 3 in Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a cross-section of an alternative construction.

A marks the rim of the wheel, on which is D arranged a pneumatic tire B, the tire being provided with the usual tube C. Secured to u"the outer surface of the tire is a tread D.

Thismay be secured by any desirable means. As shown, it is secured by the straps E, which 5 are provided with the buckles e, the strap being placed around the rim and secured with the buckle. The tread has the iiexible body portion CZ. Rivets D', having the enlarged heads fl fixed on the shank (Z2, are passed through O this flexible body and secured by the small removable heads D2 within the flexible body, the heads D2 being secured on the shanks by riveting. Arranged alternately with the rivets D are a series of rivets D3, having the These are provided with large removable heads D* within the flexible body of the tread. The enlarged heads D* overlap the large heads D and the small heads Z3 are arranged between the enlarged heads D', so that nearly all of the area of the tread is covered either by a plate or head D or D3, and the intervening flexible body preserves the flexibility of the tire. By making the heads that are exposed to the wear and strain solid with the shank a very strong construction is formed, and it also permits of the hardening of this exposed head, leaving the part that is secured by riveting softer.

In the alternative construction shown in Fig. 4, A marks the rim; BQ the tire, having the tube C. In this the flexible body D5 of the tread is formed integrally with the tire, and the plates D are provided with the integral shanks d5 and removable heads D". These plates are arranged alternately large and small, as in lthe preferred construction.

What I claim as new isl. Inatire-tread, the combination of aiiexible body; a series of metallic pieces secured on the outer surface of the tread, and covering less than the entire surface thereof, and forming a wearing and non-skidding armor for the tire-tread; and metallic pieces secured within the flexible body and overlapping the pieces on the outer surface. v

2. In a tire-tread, the combination of a ilexible bodyg`a series of rivets having a large head on the exterior surface of the tread forming a Wearing and non-skidding surface therefor; and a series of rivets with a large head within the flexible body, and overlapping the large heads on the exterior surface. Y

3. In a tire-tread, the combination of aflexible body having means for attaching the same to a tire; a series of metallic pieces secured on the outer surface of the tread and covering less than the entire surface thereof, and forming a wearing and non-skidding armor for the tire-tread; and metallic pieces secured Within the liexible body and overlapping the pieces on the outer surface.

4. Inatire-tread, the combination of aiexible body; a series of rivets having enlarged heads formed integrally with the shanks of the rivets, the heads bein'g larranged on the outer surface of the treads, and forming a Wearing and non-skidding surface therefor; the removable heads of smaller dimensions arranged Within the body of the tread and seets to which the enlarged interior heads are cured to the shanks of the rivets, having the secured.

enlarged heads on the outer surface; a series In testimony Whereoiu 1 have hereunto set of rivets having enlarged heads Within the my hand in the presence of two subscribing 5 leXible body overlapping the enlarged heads Witnesses.

on the exterior surface, said heads being se- JOHN R. WHITTEMORE. cured to the shank of the rivet and smaller Witnesses: heads on the exterior surface of the tread F. S. STEWART,

formed integrally With the Shanks of the riv- M. C. SULLIVAN. 

